No injuries after train derailment in Taylor Co.

Taylor County officials are still working to clean up a train derailment in Howard, GA.

News Leader 9 was the only local station on scene.

Norfolk Southern Train 137 derailed 29 flat cars in Howard, GA near the second intersection of Brown Road and Highway 96 near mile marker one. There were no injuries or spillage.

Emergency responders from Muscogee County Talbot County and Taylor County were all on scene shortly after 4 p.m. for the 29 car train derailment.

Rick Harris, director of Corporate Communications with Norfolk Southern, said Train 137 originated in Macon, GA and was heading to Birmingham, AL.

"No injuries, that is the best thing of it all, we have no injuries,” said Taylor County Sheriff Jeff Watson. “Only thing that is damaged just these cars stacked up on top of each other."

After making sure no one is injured, the next order of business for first responders is making sure that no dangerous chemicals had spilled in the crash.

"This train does have some hazmat materials on it but they are still on the tracks,” Sheriff Watson said. “We have had our mutual aid agreement with Muscogee County and Columbus Fire and they came out and checked it all for us just to make sure none of it was leaking. So we are all good with that."

At this time there is no word on what caused the derailment. For now, the railroad and Taylor County officials will work on cleaning up the pileup and re-opening Brown Road.

"It tore a lot of trees down on the side road which is basically on the rail road right away and county right away so we will just have to get it all up," Sheriff Watson said.

This is the third train derailment on this stretch of railroad in the past three years, something that will be surely looked at in the upcoming months.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.